Albania Police: Dead Politician Was Drug Dealer
Tirana | 18 June 2009 |Albania police
Keka, the local head of the Christian Democratic Party in the Malsia e Madhe region in Northern Albania was found dead early on Thursday, after his car exploded and went off-road close to the city of Shkodra.
The 38-year-old was found a few meters from his burning car on the highway linking the town of Kurbin with Shkodra. Police are still investigating the cause of the explosion.
The death comes just days ahead of the June 28 parliamentary elections, which are seen as key for Albania’s EU accession hopes.
The head of the Christian Democrats Nard Ndoka speaking on local TV station News 24, for called Keka's death "a terrorist act," while he condemned the police statement as unfounded.
"He was slain by a detonated explosion," said Ndoka, who spoke with minutes before his death.
"He was a member of the provincial council and if he was as the police say what did they do before," said Ndoka. "I think such statements are irresponsible he added. Ndoka went on to say that Keka had received threats recently due to his political role.
With Albania newly-promoted to NATO membership status and having filed for EU candidate status, the ballot is seen as a crucial test of the country's democratic credentials.
EU officials in Brussels and Tirana have said the poll with be considered a litmus test for the EU aspirations of the Albanian government.
The election campaign has already been marred by murder after a supporter of the opposition party killed a 25-year-old activist from the ruling Democratic Party, in the village of Qerret close to the town of Durres.
On May 4, an opposition deputy, Fatmir Xhindi, was gunned down outside his home in the town of Roskovec in Southern Albania. Xhindi’s murder remains a mystery to this day. No suspects have been indentified.
